ABSTRACT
The Adyar estuary was once known for its unique ecology and endemic flora and fauna, has lost its pristine condition due to urbanization, discharge of untreated domestic wastes, industrial effluents and encroachments. Zooplankton were monitored for a period of one year from July 2009 to June 2010, following standard methods to evaluate the seasonal variations in diversity and density in relation to environmental parameters like temperature (28.6-33.6ºC), salinity (23.3-30.3‰), pH (7.3-7.8) and DO (4.4-7.1mg l-1). Highest diversity was observed during post-monsoon (20 species) and pre-monsoon (19 species), followed by summer (9 species) and monsoon (9 species). The zooplankton density was maximum during summer (1887167 m-3) followed by pre-monsoon (1843832 m-3), post-monsoon (1153333 m-3) and monsoon (182334 m-3). Zooplankton community structure and dynamics showed a differential pattern with dominance of harpacticoids and rotifers in pre-monsoon; cyclopoids and rotifers during post-monsoon and summer. The significance of monitoring zooplankton biodiversity as a base-line study for future investigations on environmental changes in this area is discussed.
ABSTRACT
Medicinal plants have been used for centuries as remedies for human diseases because they contain components of therapeutic value. Acalypha indica L. belonging to the family Euphorbiaceae is a popular plant in traditional medicine used for treating various ailments. Phytochemical screening of the leaf extracts of A.indica was carried out following the standard procedures. Aqueous and ethanolic extracts of A.indica leaves indicated the occurence of saponins, flavonoids, terpenoids and cardiac glycosides. The ethanolic extract of A.indica leaves also showed the presence of tannins and steroids. The medical significance of various phytochemical constituents identified in the leaf extracts of A.indica and their potential antimicrobial and therapeutic applications are discussed.